Self-propelled sprinkling irrigating apparatus



y 22, 1952 F. ZYBACH 2,604,359

SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING IRRIGATING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

FRANK L. ZYBACH BY ofaaqfihw W ATTORNEYS July 22, 1952 F.L.ZYBACHSELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING IRRIGATING APPARATUS Filed June 27. 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Ll lllnl l 24 6 80 ET WI! 8| 79 HVVENTDR.

FRANK L.ZYBACH ATTORNEYS y 22, 1952 F. L. ZYBACH 2,604,359

SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING IRRIGATING APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 3 63 V INVENTOR.

IJRAN K L. ZYBACH B f i 4 WWW ATTORNEYS set up for successive areas.

Patented July 22, 1952 SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING IRRIGATIN G APPARATUSFrank L. Zybach, Strasburg, 0010.

Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,528

13 Claims.

This invention relates to sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, and moreparticularly to selfpropelled apparatus for sprinkling orv irrigatingrelatively large sections of land or the like.

In sections of the country where the natural rainfall is not sufficientto cause a maximum rowth of crops, it is often desirable and somewithwater from a ditch, the water is directed along successive lateralditches, such as between rows, and in effect floods the area beingirrigated.

This method is usually satisfactory in the case of crops havingconsiderable distances between the rows,'such as sugar beets, but in thecase of wheat andjother more closely spaced crops, the irrigatingditches may occupy an undue portion of the land. Furthermore, thecontour of the land is often such that satisfactory irrigation byditches is quite difficult. This method also tends to be unduly wastefulof water, such as from runcii and evaporation from pools.

Water supplied from a well can be distributed to a desired tract of landby irrigation ditches,

but more effective and adequate watering can be accomplishedbysprinkling thewater onto the land.

Sprinkling tends to produce more of a soaking effect, such as in thecase of natural rainfall, and greater benefits are usually obtained bysprinkling with smaller amounts of water for a longer period of time.Stationary sprinkling systems have proven practical for intenselycultivated land, more particularly when flowers,

vegetables and similar horticultural varieties are being g'rown,'butsuch stationary systems often interfere seriously with cultivation, andalso are very expensive to install in relatively large tracts of land,such as a quarter section or the like.

Also, a supply pipe has been laid across a field, and individualsprinkling pipes connected thereto at various points, the sprinklingpipes being However, the posi tion of the pipes must be changed for eachnew area tocbe sprinkled, the workmen must walk throughthemuddy groundto reach the pipes,

substantially the full time of two or more workmen is required, and thetask becomes more difiicult as the crop grows higher.

It has been proposed to take water from an artesian well, or waterpumped from a well to the center of a field to a central supply pipe andconnect thereto a relatively long distributing pipe rotated about thecentral pipe as an axis, wheeled supports being placed at intervalsalong the distributing pipe. Previous driving or rotating mechanismsproposed have included sets of cables Wound around drums, for pullingthe pipe around various portions of the field, or internal combustionengines or electric motors at each of the supports. A rather complicatedand cumbersome overhead trolley suspension system extending around theperiphery of the field has also been proposed. All of these previousproposals have suffered from numerous disadvantages, such as the needfor constant attention or abnormally high initial cost. In addition,since a distributing pipe'pivoted at the center of a quarter section ofland must be about 1320 feet long to reach the edge of the field at eachside, previous distributing pipes, mounted on wheeled supports, havebeen subject to a further and serious disadvantage-lack of control ofthe relative position of the supports, as the result of a tendency for asupport to run ahead or lag behind other supports, thus causingmisalignment, strains in the pipe and undue strain or perhaps breakageof the pipe or associated parts. Since water from an irrigation ditch,which has flowed for any substantial distance therealong, usuallycarries a large amount of silt or debris, the apparatus of the presentinvention is particularly applicable to the distribution of waterobtained from a well or other relatively clarified source, although notlimited thereto.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide. novelirrigation or sprinkling apparatus, particularly-useful for relativelylarge tracts of land; to provide such apparatus which is an improvementupon those previously proposed, wherein a distributing pipe is movedaround a centrally located supply pipe; to provide such apparatuswherein the distributing pipe is supported at intervals and wherein theproblem of misalignment of various portions of the pipe is overcome; toprovide such apparatus, including a distributing pipe having supports,wherein the tendency for one or more of the supports to lag behind orrun ahead of other supports is overcome; to provide such apparatuswherein the drive arrangement for the supports is considerablysimplified; to provide such apthe entire pipe.

paratus wherein the drive for the supports is readily controlled; toprovide such apparatus which may be left in operation for several daysor weeks, if desired, and will thereby tend to provide a soaking eifect;to provide such apparatus which can be operated with a relatively lowwater pressure; to provide such apparatus which may be made relativelylight in weight, and which may be shifted from one tract of land toanother; to provide such apparatus which includes a distributing pipewhich may be readily lengthened or shortened as desired; and to providesuch apparatus which entails a minimum of operational and constructionaldifficulties.

In general, in sprinkling and irrigation apparatus for a relativelylarge section or tract of land, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, a distributing pipe is pivotally connected to acentral supply pipe and is movable around the central pipe as an axis,while a plurality of supports are disposed at spaced positions along thedistributing pipe and a plurality 'of discharge nozzles are also spacedalong the distributing pipe for spraying water on the land as thedistributing pipe moves around. The improvements of the presentinvention include water actuated drive, means at the supports, whichdrive means are supplied with water from the distributing pipe and whichpreferably discharge exhaust water rearwardly and to one or each side.Such drive means may include a cylinder and piston to which water underpressure is supplied for movement in one direction, an exhaust lineleading from the cylinder preferably being substantially larger than theinlet line, so that only one direction control valve, 1. e. an

exhaust valve, is necessary. Thus, when the exlies in a control deviceat each intermediate support, for automatically controlling the drivemeans in accordance with springing of the distributing pipe, due tounequal movement at the supports, and thereby maintaining the pipe inalignment. Such a control device may take the form of a tension cableattached to the pipe at a point spaced to each side of the support, andadapted to determine the position of a regulating valve which controlsthe amount of water supplied to the cylinder inlet line. one support,such as the support at the outer end of the distributing pipe, isadjusted independently or set by hand, so that this support will act asa master support and regulate the speed of Additional improvementsinclude the use of flexible joints at the supports when the distributingpipe itself is relatively inflexible, and an outer section which isprovided with a valve, so that the corner of a rectangular area may beirrigated by flooding, by a separate sprinkling pipe, or in any otherdesired manner.

Additional features of the present invention will be apparent from themore detailed description which follows, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagram, on a considerablyreduced scale, of a field to be sprinkled or irrigated and in which isinstalled apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale,

The speed Of ii L) 4 of a distributing pipe and the supports therefor;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken at the central supplypipe;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation on a larger scale, partly broken away,of a portion of the distributing pipe and one support therefor;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the support and a portion of thedistributing pipe of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the support of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of an auxiliary support at the outer end ofthe distributing pipe;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, limited to the drivemeans for the support of Figs. 4-6;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view, limited to a portion of the distributing pipeand the tension cable, and certain associated parts, for controlling thespeed of the drive means at the support;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, taken at thesupport, illustrating particularly an alternative construction in whicha flexible joint is utilized; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing an alternativejoint.

As in Figs. 1-3, a relatively long distributing pipe 1) may be mountedOn a plurality of supports S, and connected at the center of the fieldii to the central pipe C. When rotated around the central pipe C, theouter end of the distributing pipe D will traverse a circular path, suchas around circle I I, to spray water on all of the land enclosed withincircle H. When the field I0 is square, as shown, the corners I2 areoutside circle H and will be unwatered by rotation of pipe D. but thecorners are very readily watered in. accordance with special provisionshereinafter described. The central pipe C may be supplied from a well orother source of relatively clear water, i. e. free of floating debris orundue amounts of silt, sand, gravel or the like. If possible, the wellis drilled at the center of the field it, and if an artesian well andthe water pressure is sufficient, no pump will be necessary. If thepressure is not sufficient, then a pump must be used, which may be aconventional deep well pump or the like, such as installed in a pit, dugbehind or slightly to one side of the central pipe C. The principalrequirements of the pump motor location is that it does not extend farenough above ground to interfere with the rotating movement ofdistributing pipe D, which may be disposed at a convenient height, suchas from 2 to 6 feet above ground level, thereby passing over the cropwhen grown. When the pump motor is installed within the confines of thefield, electric wires thereto may be buried in a ditch, plowed for thepurpose, and the ground then turned thereover.

When the well, such as the well 13 in Fig. 1, is located outside thefield, a pipe l4 leads from the well to the central pipe 0 and ispreferably buried sufficiently deep so as not to be damaged or dislodgedby plowing, cultivating or the like. As indicated above, if the waterpressure of well 53 is insufficient, a pump is preferably installed,which will usually be located at the well.

The connection between central pipe 0 and the rotating distributing pipeD, may be a, suitable sealing connection, such as of the typeillustrated in Fig. 3, in which the central pipe C is provided with anexterior, packing attachment flange [5 and an interior safety flange l6,and the distributing pipe D'terminates at its inner end in an elbow I!from which depends a vertical pipe l8, in turn having an outwardlyextending packing flange H! at the lower end thereof. A packing gland20, which may be attached by a series of bolts 2| to the exterior flange[5 of central pipe C, is adapted to clamp packing 22 against packingflange I9,.so that as vertical pipe l8 and distributing pipe D rotate,there will be no leakage of water. As will be evident, many other typesof sealing joints may be utilized.

In accordance with the present invention, each of the supports 5, exceptthe last support 8 at the outer end of the distributing pipe D, isdriven by a water actuated drive means M of Figs. 5 and 6, the watertherefor being supplied from distributing pipe D through inlet line 23.As in Figs. 4-6, each of the supports S may include a front drivingwheel 24 and a rear supporting wheel 25. The axles 26 and 2! for wheels24 and 25, respectively, may extend between beams 28, on the rear endsof which the drive means M may be mounted. The wheels 24 and arepreferably sufficiently wide to support the weight of a section of pipeD, such as 200 feet long, but preferably are made as narrow as possibleto reduce the area of growing crop which may be prevented from growingby the wheels. A tower structure for a cable 29 which supports pipe D toeach side of support S, may consist of a pair of upright angles 30bolted together at the top and extending down to axles 26 for wheel 24and steadied by a pair of braces 31 which extend forwardly from the axle21 of rear wheel 25 and also forwardly of upright 29, for a purposehereinafter described. The pipe D may be attached to the uprights 3B,but preferably to the braces 3| since the latter are more nearlyhorizontal, and also the weight of the pipe may thus be disposedrearwardly of the axle of the front wheel 24. Pipe clamps 32, or anyother suitable attaching mean may be utilized for the purpose. Thesupports S may be disposed a convenient distance apart, such asapproximately 200 feet, while cable 29 is preferably mounted at itscenter atop the tower formed by uprights 30 and extends nearly to themidpoint between two supports S, each outer end of the cable beingattached to the pipe D, as by a clamp 33 of Fig. 4, or by being weldedto the pipe D, as in Fig. 5. In addition, a plurality of vertical cables34 extend from the cable 29 down to the pipe D at suitable points, suchas spaced equi-distantly between the support S and the ends of cable 29.As will be evident, cable 29 is, in effect, a cantilever cable, and thesection of pipe supported from each support S is thus balanced. Adetachable joint is preferably provided at the junction between each ofthe sections of pipe D, such as by the flanges 35 of Figs. 4 and 5, orby a conventional union.

A plurality of sprinkling heads 31 are disposed at suitable spaceddistances along the pipe D, being mounted on rearwardly extending pipes38, which may be provided with shutoff valves 39. The sprinkling heads31 may be of any suitable type, such as provided with a nozzle fordischarging a jet of water against a fiat blade 40, which spreads thestream and causes a greater area behind the pipe to be watered by eachhead. The sprinkling heads 31 are preferably spaced apart in accordancewith the width of the stream of water discharged from each head, with aslight overlap to insure complete coverage, the nozzlespreferablyvarying in the amount of water discharged, in accordancev withthe distancefrom the center. That is, nozzles farther from the'centermay discharge a greater amount -ofwater, orbe spaced. closer together,because of the greater territory to be covered at a longer radius.

The auxiliary support S, at the outer end of the pipe D, as in Figs. 2and 7, is not required -to support as much weight as the supports S, andtherefore may comprise a single wheel 42 having an axle .43, whichextends between a pair of uprights 44 connected at the top by a spacer45 and carrying a pair of transversely extending angles 46, to which thepipe D may be attached by clamps 32'. The extreme end of the pipe is thepressure at each of the heads 31 will be substantially the same. Theheads 3'! preferably do not discharge large volumes of water, but merelyenough to approximate a light to medium rainfall, so that as the pipe Dis rotated slowly around the field, the water will have an opportunityto soak into the ground without forming 'a great number of pools, fromwhich an undue amount of'water may tend to evaporate. Thus, toadequately water the field it may be necessary for the pipe D to consumea number of days, to

traverse the field completely. In fact, it is contemplated that theapparatus can be set in motion and run continuously for several days orweeks, so that by the end of that time the field will be adequatelywatered. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use with wells havinga relatively small rate of flow, such as on the order of 200 gallons perminute. When the end of pipe D reaches any of the corners l2, or at anyother desired time, all of the shutoff valves 39 for the sprinklingheads, and also a shutoff valve 46 for each of the drive means M (seeFig. 6) may be turned off, and a separate sprinkling pipe or hoses maybe connected to the end valve 41, which may then be opened to permit thecorner I2 to be watered. Or, if the slope and configuration of the landis amenable thereto, the end valve 41 may merely be opened and thecorner irrigated. As soon as one corner has been irrigated or sprinkled,the valves 48 for the drive -means may be opened and the pipe permittedto continue sprinkling while moving around to the next corner [2. Ifdesired, the corners need not be irrigated, or a special sprinklingattachment may be used which will cover a majority of the corner, butperhaps not all. It will be evident, of course, that the corners [2 mustbe sprinkled or irrigated by additional operations but the time anddifficulty involved is much less than would be required to sprinkle orirrigate the entire field, and a considerable saving in time and effortis made, particularly since the device may be left operatingautomatically for many hours or days and nights at a time and withoutany attention on the part of the operator.

Each of the drive means M, as in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, may comprise a singlecylinder 50, pivotally mounted by a transverse pin 49 on the rear end ofbraces 3|, and supplied with water from the pipe D through line 23,which may be a relatively small tube. In addition to shutoff valve -48,each line 23 also is provided with a regulating valve which also ispreferably adjustable to within reasonable limits of the flow which willproduce approximately the desired speed of traverse, such as onecomplete revolution around the field in a time which corresponds to theamount of water to be sprinkled onto the field. Such time may varybetween. a few days and several weeks. The cross-sectional area ofcylinder is relatively large compared with that of tube 23., so that.water supplied through tube 23 to the interior of cylinder 5i! willcause a. piston 52 to riseslowly. As the piston 52 rises, a piston rod53, which is pivotally attached at its upper end to a crank 5 3, in turnpivotally mounted adjacent its front end on one or the uprights 30, willmove the rear end of the crank upwardly, such as in the direction of thearrow oi Fig. 6, to rotate the front wheel 24 at the same slow rate,

through a ratchet pivoted to the front end of crank 54 and the lower endof' which is adapted to engage ratchet teeth 56 of a wheel 57, ofsmaller diameter than drive wheel 24 but mounted thereon. at one side.

A bellows seal 53: may be provided at the upper end of cylinder 5:: toprevent dust or the like from entering the cylinder and damaging thecylinder walls or piston 52. The bellows 58 expands and contracts durinthe movement of the piston, but preferably is not subjected to any waterpressure. crank 54, the ratchet teeth 56 will slide past a pawl 58',but. on. the return stroke of crank 54, as. in. Fig. 8, the pawl 59 willprevent reverse rotation of the wheel 51 so that ratchet 55 can move.upwardly to engage another tooth on the next power stroke of crank 54..

The cylinder 50 is provided with a relatively large outlet-pipe 6| inwhich is installed a shutoif valve 82 and which terminates in a pair ofdischarge spouts 63. When the piston in cylinder 5B. is being movedupwardly, as in Fig. 6, the valve 52 is closed, but when the pistonreaches the top of the stroke, the valve 62 is opened and the waterflows. from the cylinder at-a faster rate than it can enter through thetube 23, thus permitting the piston to move. downwardly in the cylinder.The discharge spouts 6-3. are prefer.- ably inclined laterally andrearwardly, so that the water discharged from the cylinder will flow toeach side of' the path over which the wheels 2 1 and 25 run, thus notonly preventing the path from becoming. muddy, but also discharging thewater into the crop area to each side of the path. The spouts 63preferably do not extend laterally any further than thebraces 3|, to.provide as little interference as possible with the growing crop.

Each valve 32. be opened and closed automatically accordance with thepositions reached by piston 52 and crank 54, such as by a rightanglctogg-le lever 85- which is snapped to up and down positions by aspring 65, as soon as isnioved slightly past center in either direction.Gne leg of lever= 8:1 is provided with a pin Eli, which engagesalost-motion slot 6.1 in a link 68, in. turn connected to handle 690ivalve 62, while the other leg of toggle lever 84 is provided with a rodHi having upper and lower adjustable stops ll and 712, respectively.Thus, when.the crank 5,5 is moving, upwardly as in Fig. 6, as soon as itencounters upper stop. "I I on rod it will lift the rod and. move togglelever. 64: slightly past center, whereupon. spring. 65. willsnap thetoggle lever E4: to the. dotted. position. of. Fig. 6,. thereby openingthe valve 52.6 ;At this time, the water During upward movement of '8will begin to drain fromv cylinder 59. and the piston 52 and crank 54will begin to move downwardly, the parts during downward movement beingin the relative positions shown in Fig. 8.

As soon as the crank 54', which may be weighted if desired, engages thelower stop 12 on rod ll further downward. movement. will shift togglelever 66 slightly past center, whereupon spring 5'5 will snap the leverto the dotted. position of Fig. 8 and valve 62 will be closed. As willbe evident, when valve. 6?. is closed, the water supplied under pressurethrough tube 23 will move the piston 521 upwardly. at a ratecorresponding to the how of water to the cylinder. This procedure isrepeated over and over again automatically, and causes-each. support Sto advance relatively slowly around the field.

In further accordance with this invention, the hydraulic drive means Mmay be automatically controlled, to maintain each support Ssubstantially in. alignment with the other supports, so that one sectionof the pipe D'will not run too far ahead or behind the other section. Asindicated previously, the outer end support S may be utilized as acontrol support, and the speed thereof may be regulated through valve43. Each of the other supports S is provided with an automatic tensioncontrol device, which includes a tension cable. i5, which need not be aheavy cable, but need be only wire, and each end of which is attached tothe pipe D at an equal distance to eachside of the support S, as inFigs. 5 and 9. The tension cable 15 may pass through an eye or otherwisebe operatively connected with a control-rod 7t, preferably provided witha length adjustment, such as a turnbuckle H, and connected to controlhandle '58 of regulating valve Blgso that valve 5i will be opened orclosed by slight increments in accordance with the movement of rod 16,in turn produced. by tension or slack in cable 5-5. A coil spring 15',which extends from rod 16 adjacent cable 75 to an arm 8!], which may bemounted. on. a V-bracket 8!, in turn mounted on the front ends of braces3 l normally holds the rod 76 out against the tension of cable '15-.Tension or slack in cable 15 is produced by springing or flexing of pipeD, due to one of the supports 8 running ahead or behind one of theadjacent supports. Thus, if any one support S tends to ahead of theadjacent supports, then the pipe I) will tend to spring back from suchsupport, thus producing additional tension on cable l5- and therebymoving rod T6 rearwardly against the tension: of spring 19, to moveregulating valve 5| toward closed position. This reduces the flow ofwater through tube 23 to the cylinder 50, and causes the support 5involved to move at a slower rate, which will continue until theadjacent supports Shave caught up with it. Also, if any one support Slags behind the adjacent supports, then the pipe D will tend to spring,or flex in the opposite direction, thereby producing slack in cable 15which will be taken upby spring '29, thereby moving rod It andvalve 5|toward open position. This will increase the flow of water through tube23 tothe cylinder 5:: involved, thereby increasing the speed of movementof the support which increasedspeed will continue until the support hascaught up with the adjacent supports. By utilizing one of the supports,such as the last support to-the outside, as a master support, the othersupports, through the control devices, will automatically maintain thepipe in alignment and the speed of movement thereof will beautomatically maintained in correspond- 9 ence with the speed ofmovement of the master support. Y

Since water from a well usually has a relatively uniform temperature,the flow thereof through pipe D willmaintain the pipe at a substantiallyuniform temperature; but the cable 15 is preferably made of a materialsuch as Invar, which has a relatively negligible coefficient ofexpansion. Thus, if the outside temperature varies considerably, or therays of the sun tend to heat up'the cable 15, the control device willnot be seriously affected. In order to achieve as light weight aspossible; the pipe D may be made of aluminum, or an alloy light inweight. However, for very large fields, it may be necessary to userelatively large size pipe, which to withstand the stress of beingsupported at only approximately 200 feet intervals, may requirerelatively heavy walls and the pipe may be insufiiciently flexible torespond accurately to the condition in which one or the supports S tendsto run ahead of or behind adjacent supports. In such a case, it mayusually prove desirable to provide a flexible joint or coupling in thepipe D at each of the supports S, two suitable types of which are shownin Figs. 10 and 11. In Fig. 10, the abutting ends 82 of sections of pipeD extend into a cylindrical sleeve 83 having an outwardly anddiagonally'extending flange 84 at each end, packing 85 being compressedagainst the pipes between the flanges 84 and rings 86, which aretightened by draw bolts 81. This type of coupling provides a flexiblejoint at the support, so that if the support tends to run ahead orbehind adjacent supports, a slight bend in the pipe will tend to occurat the coupling, thereby permitting tension 'cable to control the speedof the support in a manner previously described. In Fig. ii, a sleeve 90is formed of rubber, either natural or synthetic, or other flexiblematerial, and is reinforced by a metal sleeve 9|, to connect the twopipe ends 82, again providing a flexible joint which permits a bend in arelatively heavy or inflexible pipe.

The apparatus of this invention may also be moved from one field toanother, merely by disconnecting the joints between sections, such asthe flanges of Fig. 4, and the section with each support S moved toanother field. If the I size of the next field is less than that of theprevious field, one or more of the intermediate sections may be omitted,the outer support S again being utilized as a master or speed controlsupport, and the valve 41 being utilized in sprinkling or irrigatingcorners. At the central pipe 0, the sealing joint may be left intact andthe pipe D disconnected at elbow ll, if desired, thus requiring asealing joint at each field and preferably a readily disconnected joint,as by flanges or a union at the elbow. When the field contains a quartersection, or 160 acres of land, the distributing pipe D Will .be 1320feet long, thus involving seven sections slightly less than 200 feetlong. For moving such sections from field to field, a special trailermaybe utilized, to be drawn by a tractor, and onto which a support S maybe run and transported lengthwise. For larger fields, such as severalsquare miles in area, a series of central supply pipes, connected toindividual wells, or several central supply pipes connected to the samewell, may be utilized.

It may happen that the land to be watered is relatively hilly, in whichevent the supports may tend to run much faster downhill, thus reducingthe sprinkling time for the area involved, In

such event, it may be desirable to substitute, for drive wheels 24,walking shoesg such as three in number, which are actuated by crank 54,the center shoe being moved intermittently by the crank and the othershoes sustainingthe weight while the center shoe is being moved from oneposition to the next. Such shoes-may be pivotally or slidably mounted,andactuated by selective links, through the crank 54. Or, if desired,brakes may be associated with thesupports, to limit the speed thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the sprinkling andirrigation apparatus of this invention fulfills to a marked degree therequirements and objects hereinbefore set forth. The provision of aWater actuated drive means at each support avoids-any necessity forcarrying electrical wires or the like along the distributing pipe, or ofinstalling a relatively heavy internal combustion engine or motor ateach support. The use of the same water which is being sprinkled ontothe field, to drive the distributing pipe provides a convenient andconstant source of power, and none of this water is wasted since thedischarge from the drive means is preferably to each side therebycausing the discharged water to be supplied to the crop. The provisionof a'hydraulic-cylinder and piston which requires pressure for movementin only one direction simplifies considerably the construction of thedrive means, and also reduces the weight carried by each support: Bysupplying inlet water continuously and utilizing a relatively largedischarge line; the control mechanism for the drive means is reduced toa minimum of parts. l 1 l The automatic control of the speed of eachsupport, 'in accordance with the springing or fiexure of thedistributing pipe, is a feature-of considerable importance. Bycontrolling the speed of each support through a simple tension cable,the distributing pipe itself can be made lighter in weight, since thestresses which would otherwise be imposed upon it by some of thesupports tending to run far ahead onbehind other supports are,eliminated or highly minimized. Even with a'relatively inflexible pipe,a similar control can be used, merely by installing a flexible couplingor joint at the support.

There are, of course, other features of construction of the embodimentsillustrated and described which are of value, but, in general,considerable variation in the actual construction can be made. Also, itwill be understood that other embodi merits of this invention mayexist,- and various other chang'esmade, all without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus for a relatively large sectionof land or the like, which includes a central water supply pipe,a'distributing pipe pivotally' connected to said central supply pipe andmovable around said central pipe as an axis, a plurality of'supp'ortsdisposed at spaced positions along said distributing pipe, andaplurality of discharge nozzles spaced along said distributing pipe forspraying water ,onto'the land as said distributing pipe' moves around,the improvement which comprises drive means at each support; and acontrol device at each intermediate suppcrt for controlling said drivemeans in accordance with the springing or bending of said distributingpipe due to unequal movement at said supports, said-control deviceincluding a tension cable attached to said distributing pipe 11 atsubstantially equal distances to each side of said intermediate support,and a spring at said intermediate support holding said tension cableaway from said distributing pipe.

2. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 1, wherein said drive means is water actuated, and said apparatusat each said intermediate support includes a regulating valve forcontrolling the water supplied to said drive means, and a leverconnected between said tension cable and said valve.

.3. In a sprinkling and irrigation system for a relatively large sectionof land or the like normally including a central Water supply pipe, adistributing pipe pivotally connected to said central supply pipe andmovable around said central pipe as an axis, a plurality of supportsdisposed at spaced positions along said distributing pipe, and aplurality of discharge nozzles spaced along said distributing pipe forspraying water onto the land as said distributing pipe moves around, theimprovement which comprises a water actuated piston and cylinder on eachsaid support, for driving said support; a relatively small inlet andsupply line from said distributing pipe to one end of said cylinder; arelatively large water outlet line leading from the same end of saidcylinder; and a valve in said outlet line, said valve being closed tocause said piston to move in one direction and open to permit water toflow out of said cylinder at a faster rate than supplied through saidinlet line and thereby permit said piston to move in the oppositedirection.

4. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 3, including a crank for driving said support and actuated by saidpiston; a toggle lever for moving said exhaust valve to open and closedposition; a spring for holding said toggle lever in different positions;and a control rod having adjustable stops adapted to be engaged by saidcrank for moving said toggle lever to said different positions.

5. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus for a relatively large sectionof land or the like, which includes a central water supply pipe, adistributing pipe pivotally connected to said central supply pipe andmovable around said central pipe as an axis, a plurality of supportsdisposed at spaced positions along said distributing pipe, and aplurality of discharge nozzles spaced along said distributing pipe forspraying Water onto the land as said distributing pipe moves around, theimprovement which comprises a plurality of supports which include adrive wheel and an idler wheel disposed laterally with respect to saiddistributing pipe; a framework providing a tower extending above saiddrive wheel and connected with said rear wheel; a longitudinal cablemounted centrally on said tower and extending to either side thereof andattached to said distributing pipe near the midpoint between supports,said distributing pipe having a detachable joint at each said midpoint;spaced vertical cables extending from said longitudinal cable to saiddistributing pipe; water actuated means supplied from said distributingpipe for driving each said support; and a wheeled auxiliary support atthe outer end of said distributing pipe.

6. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 5, including a water supply line leading from said distributingpipe to said drive means at each said support; a regulating valve insaid line; a lateral tension cable connected to said distributing pipeat equal distances from each said support except one; a

spring tending to hold said cable away from said pipe; and an adjustablelever connecting each said tension cable and the correspondingregulating valve, for moving said regulating valve toward upon andclosed positions in accordance with the springing or bending of saidpipe as one support tends to lag behind or travel ahead of adjacentsupports, thereby to regulate the speed of individual supports tomaintain said distributing pipe in alignment, one of said drivensupports being adapted to be regulated in speed by setting saidregulating valve and the remaining driven supports will tend to maintainalignment therewith.

7. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 6, including a water actuated piston and cylinder on each saidsupport, for driving said support; a relatively small inlet and supplyline from said distributing pipe'to one end of said cylinder; arelatively large water outlet pipe leading from the same end of saidcylinder; a valve in said outlet line, said valve being closed to causesaid piston to move in one direction and opened to permit water to flowout of said cylinder at a faster rate than supplied through said inletline and thereby cause said piston to move in the opposite direction; acrank for driving said support and actuated by said piston; a togglelever for moving said exhaust valve to open and closed positions; aspring for holding said toggle lever in different positions; and acontrol rod having adjustable stops adapted to be engaged by said crankfor moving said toggle lever to said different positions.

8. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus for a relatively large sectionof land or the like, which includes a central water supply pipe, adistributing pipe pivotally connected to said central supply pipe andmovable around said central pipe as an axis, a plurality of supportsdisposed at spaced positions along said distributing pipe, a pluralityof discharge nozzles spaced along said distributing pipe for sprayingwater onto the land as said distributing pipe moves around, and drivemeans at each support, the improvement which comprises the combination,at each intermediate support, of means responsive to the springing orbending of said distributing pipe at said intermediate support due tounequal movement at said intermediate support; means for controlling thespeed of the drive means at said intermediate support; and meansconnecting said responsive means with said control means so as to reducethe speed of said drive means when such spring-- ing or bending takesplace in one direction and to increase the speed of said drive meanswhen such springing or bending takes place in the opposite direction.

9. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 8, including water actuated drive means at said supports; a watersupply line to said drive means; and a regulating valve therefor asmeans for controlling the speed of drive means.

10. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 8, wherein said distributing pipe is relatively flexible.

11. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 8, wherein said distributing pipe is relatively rigid, and whichincludes flexible couplings at said supports.

12. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus, the improvement defined inclaim 8, wherein said distributing pipe is relatively rigid, andincludes flexible couplings at said supports comprising sleeves ofresilient material connecting the ends of sections of said distributingpipe.

13. In sprinkling and irrigation apparatus for a relatively largesection of land or the like, which includes a central water supply pipe,a distributing pipe pivotally connected to said central supply pipe andmovable around said central pipe as an axis, a plurality of supportsdisposed at spaced positions along said distributing pipe, a pluralityof discharge nozzles spaced along said distributing pipe for sprayingwater onto the land as said distributing pipe moves around and drivemeans at each support, the improvement which comprises the combination,at an intermediate support, of a cable extending to and attached to saiddistributing pipe at each side of said intermediate support and therebyresponsive to the springing or bending of said distributing pipe at saidintermediate support due to unequal movement at said intermediatesupport; means for controlling the speed of the drive means atREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,085,609 Heath Feb. 3, 1914.1,150,144 Norton Aug. 17, 1915 1,197,534 Norton Sept. 5, 1916 1,255,777Norton Feb. 5, 1918 1,966,783 Balaam July 17, 1934: 2,057,217 Soper Oct.13, 1936

